There is no shortage of   roofing   contractors , but contractors who exhibit professionalism can be difficult to find. In many cases, building owners discover a  contractor’s  lack of professionalism in the middle of a project, and consequently are left with a bad  roofing  job, or worse, an incomplete job. If your building needs a new  roof , hiring a  contractor  who exhibits the characteristics below is the best way to ensure you receive a professional  roofing  job from start to finish:

Asks for Payment after the Project is Complete

Many contractors ask for a small payment up front to buy materials, but only unprofessional ones ask for full payment upfront. In some cases, contractors who ask for payment upfront plan on taking the customer’s money and running, but even when they plan on completing the job, the fact that they were paid upfront creates a lack of motivation.

Regardless of a contractor’s reasoning, never pay for a project in full up front.

Is Licensed, Bonded, and Insured

In many states,  roofing  professionals are required to hold a general  contractor  license. They should also be bonded and insured. Without a license, a  roofing   contractor  cannot legally render services; and without bonding and insurance, he is not liable to compensate you for stolen property, personal injury, or property damage that occurs during the project.

Provides a Contractor’s Warranty

A manufacturer’s warranty ensures the quality of  roofing  materials, but a  contractor’s  warranty ensures the quality of the contractor’s workmanship. An experienced contractor who employs trained roofers has no reason not to supply this warranty. If a contractor does not provide a contractor’s warranty, you should not hire him.

Is Willing to Provide Several References

One of the best ways to judge the quality of a contractor’s work is to speak with several of his past customers. If a contractor has a history of producing quality of work, he should provide enough references to satisfy potential customers’ curiosity about his work. If he does not have good work history, he may be unwilling to provide multiple references.

If a contractor makes excuses for not providing the number of references you ask for, you should consider hiring a different contractor.

Has a Permanent Place of Business

A roofer who has a permanent place of business typically has an established customer base in the direct vicinity of the business’ location, and he is usually dedicated to performing quality work to grow his customer base. When a roofer lacks a permanent place of business, he has fewer reasons to perform quality work in a given location, as he can easily move to another location if he so chooses.

Conclusion

The characteristics above define roofing professionals, as opposed to roofers whose practices and state of business are questionable at best. If you are looking for solid roofing professionals, do not take a chance on hiring an unqualified roofer. Instead, contact your state’s Construction Industry Licensing Board for a list of licensed  roofing   contractors  in your area.